Biggest Differences Between Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom Kitchens

Which one is for you?

The decisions you make when building or renovating your kitchen always depend on the season you’re building, your cooking requirements, your budget, and your style. There are lots of designs available, but your choice will surely fall under a certain type. It’s either a stock, semi-custom, or a custom kitchen.

The main difference between the three is the mode of production of the kitchen components (cabinets, benchtop, tapware, etc). Keep reading this blog to understand how one is distinct from the other. Being informed will help you build the kitchen of your dreams within your budget.

Stock Kitchens

☑️ You can buy all the kitchen components from stores like IKEA, Target, KMART etc. What you see is what you get.

☑️ The cabinets are mass-produced and pre-manufactured. Customization is limited because you only have a few selections of finishes, colours, handle styles, and wood type.

☑️ Ready to assemble and has a shorter lead time that semi or fully customised kitchens.

☑️ Looks are standardized.

☑️ Considerably less expensive. Labour costs are lower since modular units are easier to build.

How to get a stock kitchen

It is important to get the accurate measurements of your kitchen so you and your designer can plan the space efficiently. Book a design consultation and conduct site visit before you order your modular kitchen unit in the store or online. Your kitchen system will arrive in a few days. You and your team can build afterwards.

Semi-custom kitchens

☑️ The products still look standardised, but being able to do subtle changes results in an endless combination of finishes, surfaces, handles, and more.

☑️ Stock cabinets with extra details and frills are semi-customised already. You are free to change the door fronts, drawer sizes, and cupboard dimensions (width, depth, and height).

☑️ The cost of this kitchen varies depending on your product choices. Even the small frills such as door handles can drive the cost up or down.

Some suppliers of semi-custom kitchens include installation with their services. If your provider doesn’t, you need to hire other tradies for the installation. Extra service adds to the cost.

At the end of the day, we believe that a semi-custom kitchen is better than a stock one because it enables you to personalise your space without shelling much money. You can do extra work on the cabinets and other kitchen components without the expense of a fully customed kitchen.

How to get a semi-custom kitchen

Book a design consultation and conduct a site visit before planning our future kitchen’s layout and dimensions. Then, ask a quote for all the parts and pieces you need. Purchase the items, wait for it to be delivered, and install the kitchen.

Custom Kitchens

☑ A custom kitchen has a design which is tailored to fit the homeowner’s needs.

☑ It is best done with the help of an architect or a kitchen designer. These professionals will design, source materials, and organise the installation for you. They will lift the pressure off your shoulders. Homeowners with enough building experience can DIY their new kitchen to save labour costs.

☑ The hardest and most expensive component of a custom kitchen is the cabinets. These are built to your specifications, therefore these are labour-intensive and expensive.

☑ A skilled carpenter can either build custom kitchen cabinets on or off-site or manufactured on a made-to-order basis. You can also provide them with a set of standard-sized cabinets to work with. They will add the details and features you want.

☑ Custom kitchens usually cost more than stock and semi-custom designs, but it will be one of a kind. Your kitchen does not have a twin because no two custom projects are the same.

☑ The factors that affect the total cost of a custom project are the size of the space, the finishes chose, hardware installed, and the amount of labour required for the job.

☑ Lead times vary depending on the season. Projects that start during winter finish earlier and faster compared to the ones done before Christmas or during the early summer season.

How to build a custom kitchen

It begins with a site visit and a design consultation. Once the designer and the homeowner completes the project brief, the design team will proceed with their jobs. They will fine-tune the details such as the materials, finishes, cabinetry design, handles, colours, internal inserts, and ergonomics. Once the team decides to proceed with the final design, designers will contact product suppliers and the contractors who will build the kitchen. A small kitchen project will last for 3-4 weeks.

We can help you plan your kitchen, whether you are opting for a stock, semi-custom, or fully customised one. Use the above form to leave a message and we’ll get back to you soon.